A young kid stepped in from the cold   And he ordered up a drink   He said don't look surprised old man I'm older than you think   If I was the talkin' kind I could tell you a thing or two   And since you didn't ask, let me show you my tattoos     He said I got this rose in Memphis in some back old alley dump   Picked this eagle up in Dallas, man I sure was good and drunk   And you know the way I see it, if it gets any worse out there   A guy like me hasn't got a prayer     The old man poured some coffee   He said this one's on me   Sat down his cigarette and rolled up his sleeve   Said take a good look here my friend   You see what these are   Just my ragged old and jagged ordinary scars   He said I got this one in Paris in a war 'fore you were born   And this one when I was half your age workin' on my daddy's farm   And you know the way I see it, son you ain't seen what I've seen   Cause tattoos and scars are different things     He said I've been here for all these years   And what I know is this   If you look and listen close   A man will show you what he is   You know the way I see it, you've been 'round but you're still green   Cause tattoos and scars are different things     A young kid stepped in from the cold   And he ordered up a drink   He said don't look surprised old man   I'm older than you think